It was a silence that became embarrassing. While his unexpected absence from the jubilee of Djibril Cissé, scheduled for May 27, had sparked a lively disappointment with French fans, Steven Gerrard finally decided to react. The former captain of Liverpool, long awaited by his friend and ex-co-team, had canceled at the last moment his presence at this event, however symbolic, forcing Cissé to apologize publicly on social networks. Today, “the Scouser” therefore decided to break the silence to explain himself, but not the way everyone hoped.
Against all expectations, Steven Gerrard did not express himself on his controversial absence in the jubilee of Djibril Cissé, but on a radically different subject: the retreat of Pepe Reina, his former teammate in Liverpool. Via Instagram, Gerrard wanted to pay a vibrant tribute to the Spanish goalkeeper, celebrating his incredible career and greeting “A leader, a model and a huge goalkeeper”. If the gesture is classy and appreciated by the fans of the Reds, it appears as a real opposite to the moment when many awaited a clarification concerning the jubilee.
Djibril Cissé will not be able to count on Gerrard during his jubilee.
This surprising speech of Gerrard necessarily raises questions. Why did the former English environment not have seen fit to explain themselves directly to the fans of Cissé and the AJ Auxerre, the organizing club of the jubilee? If it is true that Gerrard owes no direct account to the French public, his impeccable image and his usual elegance would have deserved a more appropriate response. This unexpected omission is debated, some seeing it as a lack of consideration towards his former partner and the supporters.
Steven Gerrard finally comes out of silence after the controversy
For his part, Djibril Cissé has demonstrated great elegance in this case. Despite his immense disappointment (“My disappointment is great but my respect for my captain goes above everything”he wrote), the former French international wanted to calm the spirits by recalling the memories shared with Gerrard, especially during the legendary triumph of Istanbul in 2005. Cissé even offered reimbursements to disgruntled spectators, thus showing his whole class and his understanding despite the bitterness of the moment.
This controversy shows that an clumsy or poorly calculated speech can have unpleasant consequences. Gerrard certainly keeps a huge credit with fans for his exceptional sporting past, but this recent episode may leave a small spot on his image, at least in France. The jubilee will take place without him, but Gerrard still has a chance to repair this faux pas by speaking publicly, even briefly, on his absence. A simple gesture would probably be enough to reassure the supporters and definitively close this delicate episode.
